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uneasiness in the gums at the time of cutting teeth；…bubbles up； and
has a feeling of uneasiness and tickling； but when in like manner
the soul is beginning to grow wings； the beauty of the beloved meets
her eye and she receives the sensible warm motion of particles which
flow towards her； therefore called emotion （imeros）； and is
refreshed and warmed by them； and then she ceases from her pain with
joy。 But when she is parted from her beloved and her moisture fails；
then the orifices of the passage out of which the wing shoots dry up
and close； and intercept the germ of the wing； which； being shut up
with the emotion； throbbing as with the pulsations of an artery；
pricks the aperture which is nearest； until at length the entire
soul is pierced and maddened and pained； and at the recollection of
beauty is again delighted。 And from both of them together the soul
is oppressed at the strangeness of her condition； and is in a great
strait and excitement； and in her madness can neither sleep by night
nor abide in her place by day。 And wherever she thinks that she will
behold the beautiful one； thither in her desire she runs。 And when she
has seen him； and bathed herself in the waters of beauty； her
constraint is loosened； and she is refreshed； and has no more pangs
and pains； and this is the sweetest of all pleasures at the time；
and is the reason why the soul of the lover will never forsake his
beautiful one； whom he esteems above all； he has forgotten mother
and brethren and companions； and he thinks nothing of the neglect
and loss of his property； the rules and proprieties of life； on
which he formerly prided himself； he now despises； and is ready to
sleep like a servant； wherever he is allowed； as near as he can to his
desired one； who is the object of his worship； and the physician who
can alone assuage the greatness of his pain。 And this state； my dear
imaginary youth to whom I am talking； is by men called love； and among
the gods has a name at which you； in your simplicity； may be
inclined to mock； there are two lines in the apocryphal writings of
Homer in which the name occurs。 One of them is rather outrageous；
and not altogether metrical。 They are as follows：
Mortals call him fluttering love；
But the immortals call him winged one；
Because the growing of wings is a necessity to him。
You may believe this； but not unless you like。 At any rate the loves
of lovers and their causes are such as I have described。
Now the lover who is taken to be the attendant of Zeus is better
able to bear the winged god； and can endure a heavier burden； but
the attendants and companions of Ares； when under the influence of
love； if they fancy that they have been at all wronged； are ready to
kill and put an end to themselves and their beloved。 And he who
follows in the train of any other god； while he is unspoiled and the
impression lasts； honours and imitates him； as far as he is able；
and after the manner of his god he behaves in his intercourse with his
beloved and with the rest of the world during the first period of
his earthly existence。 Every one chooses his love from the ranks of
beauty according to his character； and this he makes his god； and
fashions and adorns as a sort of image which he is to fall down and
worship。 The followers of Zeus desire that their beloved should have a
soul like him； and therefore they seek out some one of a philosophical
and imperial nature； and when they have found him and loved him；
they do all they can to confirm such a nature in him； and if they have
no experience of such a disposition hitherto； they learn of any one
who can teach them； and themselves follow in the same way。 And they
have the less difficulty in finding the nature of their own god in
themselves； because they have been compelled to gaze intensely on him；
their recollection clings to him； and they become possessed of him；
and receive from him their character and disposition； so far as man
can participate in God。 The qualities of their god they attribute to
the beloved； wherefore they love him all the more； and if； like the
Bacchic Nymphs； they draw inspiration from Zeus； they pour out their
own fountain upon him； wanting to make him as like as possible to
their own god。 But those who are the followers of Here seek a royal
love； and when they have found him they do just the same with him； and
in like manner the followers of Apollo； and of every other god walking
in the ways of their god； seek a love who is to be made like him
whom they serve； and when they have found him； they themselves imitate
their god； and persuade their love to do the same； and educate him
into the manner and nature of the god as far as they each can； for
no feelings of envy or jealousy are entertained by them towards
their beloved； but they do their utmost to create in him the
greatest likeness of themselves and of the god whom they honour。
Thus fair and blissful to the beloved is the desire of the inspired
lover； and the initiation of which I speak into the mysteries of
true love； if he be captured by the lover and their purpose is
effected。 Now the beloved is taken captive in the following manner：…
As I said at the beginning of this tale； I divided each soul into
three…two horses and a charioteer； and one of the horses was good
and the other bad： the division may remain； but I have not yet
explained in what the goodness or badness of either consists； and to
that I will proceed。 The right…hand horse is upright and cleanly made；
he has a lofty neck and an aquiline nose； his colour is white； and his
eyes dark； he is a lover of honour and modesty and temperance； and the
follower of true glory； he needs no touch of the whip； but is guided
by word and admonition only。 The other is a crooked lumbering
animal； put together anyhow； he has a short thick neck； he is
flat…faced and of a dark colour； with grey eyes and blood…red
complexion； the mate of insolence and pride； shag…eared and deaf；
hardly yielding to whip and spur。 Now when the charioteer beholds
the vision of love； and has his whole soul warmed through sense； and
is full of the prickings and ticklings of desire； the obedient
steed； then as always under the government of shame； refrains from
leaping on the beloved； but the other； heedless of the pricks and of
the blows of the whip； plunges and runs away； giving all manner of
trouble to his companion and the charioteer； whom he forces to
approach the beloved and to remember the joys of love。 They at first
indignantly oppose him and will not be urged on to do terrible and
unlawful deeds； but at last； when he persists in plaguing them； they
yield and agree to do as he bids them。
And now they are at the spot and behold the flashing beauty of the
beloved； which when the charioteer sees； his memory is carried to
the true beauty； whom he beholds in company with Modesty like an image
placed upon a holy pedestal。 He sees her； but he is afraid and falls
backwards in adoration； and by his fall is compelled to pull back
the reins with such violence as to bring both the steeds on their
haunches； the one willing and unresisting； the unruly one very
unwilling； and when they have gone back a little； the one is
overcome with shame and wonder； and his whole soul is bathed in
perspiration； the other； when the pain is over which the bridle and
the fall had given him； having with difficulty taken breath； is full
of wrath and reproaches； which he heaps upon the charioteer and his
fellow…steed； for want of courage and manhood； declaring that they
have been false to their agreement and guilty of desertion。 Again they
refuse； and again he urges them on； and will scarce yield to their
prayer that he would wait until another time。 When the appointed
hour comes； they make as if they had forgotten； and he reminds them；
fighting and neighing and dragging them on； until at length he； on the
same thoughts intent； forces them to draw near again。 And when they
are near he stoops his head and puts up his tail； and takes the bit in
his teeth。 and pulls shamelessly。 Then the charioteer is。 worse off
than ever； he falls back like a racer at the barrier； and with a still
more violent wrench drags the bit out of the teeth of the wild steed
and covers his abusive tongue and…jaws with blood； and forces his legs
and haunches to the ground and punishes him sorely。 And when this
has happened several times and the villain has